Manor estate homes plan refused for fourth time

The former gatehouse has been described as "an eyesore" but councillors do not want to approve new cottages to finance its repairs

Repeated bids to build homes on the edge of a Leicestershire manor's estate have been called "uncomfortable" by planners.

A fourth bid to develop part of Ashby Folville Manor south of Melton Mowbray has been refused said the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Applicant Jamie Lewis, owner of the manor, wanted to build five terraced cottages as well as restore an arson-hit lodge, reinstate the original driveway and repair a bridge.

Melton Borough councillors called the lodge, formerly the gatehouse to the manor, an "eyesore" in its current state but felt the cottages were in "an unsustainable location" for housing.

Planning documents said building the homes would "help fund the restoration proposals".

Since 2019, three previous applications seeking permission for restoration works to the lodge and the driveway alongside a changing number of new homes have been blocked.

A previous owner of the lodge was given planning permission to renovate the lodge and convert part into two five-bedroomed houses in 2016.

But the latest bid for the site said this plan prevented the driveway's restoration and "would fundamentally alter the character and appearance of the historic part of the lodge to the extent that it could never be returned back".

'Middle of nowhere'

Chris May of Freeths, speaking on behalf of the applicant, said Mr Lewis was "aware that a lot of the community is fed up with the burnt out appearance of the lodge at the entrance to their village, and the continued anti-social behaviour with associated police visits".

But councillors voted seven to two to refuse the application.

Coun Ronan Browne said it was "uncomfortable" seeing the scheme repeatedly brought to the committee with plans for housing attached: "I can't see how it outweighs the benefit of basically unaffordable houses in the middle of nowhere with no transport links.

"We're going to come back the next time with three, two, one. That's not what the planning process is about."